Discussion Guide for
“Water Slideshow” A F T E R V IE W IN G “ WAT ER SLIDESHO W,” use this guide to research issues related
to clean water, reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach out with life-changing help, resolve to follow God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.
Research »
8 8 4 M IL L ION PEO PLE WO R LDWIDE lack access to safe water. More than 2.5
billion people worldwide lack basic sanitation facilities.
»
»
INA DE Q UAT E A C C ESS T O SA FE WAT ER and sanitation services, coupled
with poor hygiene practices, kills and sickens thousands of children every day, and leads to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more.
O N E C HIL D DIES EV ERY 7 because of water or weaning food contaminated
by lethal doses of viruses, parasites, and bacteria. More than half of these deaths could be prevented with access to clean water for drinking and soap for hand washing.
PA G E 1 O F 8
»
»
»
»
L A C K O F C LEA N WAT ER causes millions of people in developing countries to
suffer needlessly and constantly from diseases such as diarrhea and parasitic infections. This compromises the immune systems of entire communities, but has the most impact on children younger than 5.
WAT E R BO R NE A ND WAT ER -R ELAT ED DISEA SES worsen the already
debilitating effects of malnutrition, and seriously impede the physical and mental development of these young children—sometimes permanently. When opportunistic infections coincide with malnutrition and weakened immune systems, the result is all too often tragic and needless death.
W H E R E A CLEA N WAT ER SO UR C E is unavailable to a community, it is less likely
that schools will be built there, or that properly trained teachers will move to the community, even if a school and teacher’s quarters have been provided to attract them.
GIR L S A N D WO MEN A R E T HE “WAT ER HA ULER S” of the developing world.
On average, women and girls in developing countries walk nearly four miles a day, carrying five gallons of water, to supply the family needs for water for drinking, cooking, washing, irrigating crops, and watering livestock. This enormous task greatly reduces the time available for other productive work such as household tasks, gardening, or engaging in income-generating activities. The time taken to collect water has a significant negative impact on girls’ education—girls may miss classes or arrive at school exhausted because they have already spent hours walking to collect water for their family’s daily needs. (The above statistics are from: UNICEF: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
Reflect »
INC L UDE D IN T HIS DISC USSIO N GUIDE is a Personal Water Use chart detailing
the number of gallons of water used for typical daily activities, such as taking a shower or washing dishes. Have each person fill out the chart based on their individual water use. As a group, how much water are you using every day? How much of that amount do you think is wasteful?
»
» Also included is a chart detailing domestic water use by country. Compare daily domestic water use around the world. How would you explain the differences?
HO W H AV E Y O UR T HO UGHT S about water and water use changed after
watching the film and completing the water chart activity? PA G E 2 O F 8
Recall » »
W H Y IS C L EA N WAT ER vital for community development and transformation?
W IT HIN T H E FA MILY, the responsibility of gathering water usually falls on
women. How does this responsibility impact their daily lives and ability to contribute to the community? How would access to clean water through a new well empower women to be agents of change in their community?
»
W H E N W O R LD V ISIO N HELPS a community build a well, water-piping systems,
and other resources for improved sanitation and water purification, the community provides the labor and World Vision the expertise. Community members are involved in development from the beginning, when they decide which projects to undertake, until World Vision leaves and community members assume responsibility for maintaining the projects. Why do you think it is important for the community to be involved in every step of development?
Respond »
HO W C A N YO U A S A N INDIV IDUA L and as a group decrease the amount of
water you use on a daily basis? How might your decision to consume less help others and the environment?
»
Y O U S AW IN T HE V IDEO how a well not only brings clean water to a community
but also starts a chain reaction of improvements in crops, livestock, and all other areas of life. What first step could you take in your community or another community to bring about positive change and meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged?
Reach Out Consider making a difference in the following ways:
»
B E C O M E E D UC AT ED A B O UT C LEA N WAT ER ISSUES. Go to
www.worldvisionresources.com to preview our ever growing educational resources.
PA G E 3 O F 8
»
»
»
S P O N S O R A C HILD T HR O UGH WO R LD V ISIO N. For just about a dollar a day,
you’ll provide your sponsored child with access to critical basics such as clean water, improved nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts will help make a world of difference for one child and his or her family and community as they continue development efforts. You may also choose to sponsor a child in an AIDS-affected nation. For sponsorship information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com. Then click on the “sponsor a child” icon.
B E C O M E A N A DV O C AT E. Sign petitions and participate in events to encourage
your legislators and communities to prioritize the provision of access to clean water for children. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on “programs and events” for more information.
DO NAT E IT EMS FR O M T HE WO R LD V ISIO N GIFT C ATA LO G to help
communities with development projects that will benefit their children for generations to come. Gifts include items such as wells, contributions to water and sanitation funds, trees, goats, mother and child health care, small business loans, school fees, even bicycles to help children get to school. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on “programs and events” for more information.
Resolve » “He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs.” — PS ALM 107: 35
» “Let them give thanks to the Lord … for He satisfies the thirsty.” — PS ALM 107: 8, 9A
» “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst, but I the LORD will answer them.” — I S AI AH 41: 17- 18
» “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground…” — I S AI AH 44: 3
» “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, he will certainly not lose his reward.” — M ATTH EW 10: 42
PA G E 4 O F 8
Rely Pray that:
»
»
»
»
F UNDING A ND O T HER R ESO UR C ES necessary to complete clean water projects
will be readily available. Pray also that communities will find ways to ensure their water supply is well maintained and managed.
GO D W O ULD C O NT INUE using community leaders to educate people about safe
water, health, hygiene, and sanitation in order to minimize disease caused by unsafe water.
GO V E R NM ENT LEA DER S, humanitarian organizations, and policymakers will be
strengthened in their efforts to improve access to clean water around the globe.
W E W IL L B E C O NSC IO US of how we use natural resources (including water) as
well as our material resources so that our actions benefit each other and the environment.
The Scripture in this resource is from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978,1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other cited information were verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to reference current and valid sources, but we cannot guarantee the content of any source and we are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since our verification. If you find an error in, or have a question or concern about, any of the information or sources listed within, please contact World Vision Resources. Copyright © 2010 World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved. PA G E 5 O F 8
HANDOUT 1
Personal Water Use Chart ACTIVITY
A. Average Number of Times Activity Is Done Per Day
B. Estimated Amount of Water Used
Taking a 10-minute shower (standard shower head)
50 gallons (19/minute)
Taking a 10-minute shower (low-flow shower head)
23 gallons (9/minute)
Taking a bath
39 gallons
Brushing teeth (water running)
2 gallons
Flushing the toilet (standard-flow toilet)
C. Total Daily Water Use
D. Class Estimates of Daily Water Use
E. Ranking of Water Use Activities (from Column C)
3 gallons
Flushing the toilet (low-flow toilet)
1.9 gallons
Washing dishes by hand
10 gallons
Running a dishwasher
12 gallons
Doing a load of laundry
31 gallons
Watering the lawn
300 gallons
Washing a car
50 gallons
TOTAL Daily Water Use by Household Member
Permission to reproduce is granted. Š 2010 by World Vision Inc.
PA G E 6 O F 8
HANDOUT 2
Domestic Water Use by Country Domestic Water Use
CONTINENT/COUNTRY
(gallons per day per person) AFRICA 17 Egypt 53 Ethiopia 3 Mozambique 2 South Africa 44 EUROPE 71 Albania 91 United Kingdom 30 NORTH AMERICA 137 Canada 208 United States 173 CENTRAL AMERICA 87 Costa Rica 145 Honduras 7 SOUTH AMERICA 75 Peru 43 Venezuela 101 ASIA 31 Azerbaijan 77 Bangladesh 11 China 16
Permission to reproduce is granted. Š 2010 by World Vision Inc.
PA G E 7 O F 8
About World Vision W O R L D V IS IO N is a Christian humanitarian organization
dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique: We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor God and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org.
About World Vision Resources E NDING GL O B A L PO V ERT Y and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world. World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision. World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world.
For more information about our resources, contact: World Vision Resources Mail Stop 321 P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 Fax: 253-815-3340 wvresources@worldvision.org www.worldvisionresources.com
PA G E 8 O F 8